Travelling to Scotland highlands...need advice on which travel shoes should I choose

Those look pretty light to me, actually. More like trail runners than for hiking. I personally prefer something with some ankle support for rougher going. And of course, it will be wet and boggy. I used light hiking boots (above the ankle) in Scotland with some foam insoles that I could take out to dry, plus I popped the boot footbed liner out between hikes to dry.

But it all depends on what sort of hiking you plan to do. The main trail into the Quiraing is 'sneaker hiking'. Those nanos would be fine. Going up Ben Nevis, you're gonna need a bigger boat. ;-)

Crossfit or cross training shoes are not a substitute for proper outdoor shoes/boots if you are actually hiking and not just taking a 1-2km stroll on a pleasant flat path. Go to REI.com to get some ideas.

I sound like a broken record or a an employ of the company. Maybe the former definitely NOT the latter. Invest some money and buy some Keens. Either the Kovan low cut or mid ankle. I swear by them. Hike in the low cut daily up to the Griffith Observatory in LA, same pair has roamed the streets of London, Havana, Istanbul, Belfast,
West Coast of Ireland, Gap of Dunloe, Killarney National Park. They are extremely comfortable, great support and unbelievably light.

I haven't hiked in Scotland, but I do some hiking here in the PNW. My personal choice is the Nike Wildhorse Zoom 3, they are technically a trail running shoe. They are phenomenal. I have used them to hike in the rainforest (and while not advertised as waterproof, they kept my feet dry), and also trek all over China for 3 weeks. They are my go to shoes for long days of walking on almost any terrain. I hope you find some good shoes for your trip!

Hiking...when crossing rough terrains.

Cross-trainers would be adequate for an Edinburgh Arthur's Seat/Holyrod Park walk but would not be a good choice for Highlands hiking.

Highlands trails are a bit more rugged than a walk on an unpaved road. The three characteristics of features that I would look are:

• Waterproof but breathable with a durable water repelling finish
• Lugged soles for traction on slippery rock and loose material
• Ankle support (mid-height or higher) and toe box and heel protection

And I was happy to have brought trekking poles for the steeper trails.

I'm a fan of my Ahnu Montara boots with Sockwell compression socks. I wear them for all kinds of walking, rough outdoor terrain or not. They provide excellent comfort and support and were wonderful on wet, soggy and slippery terrain in a driving sideways rain on Orkney in May. I think of them as all wheel drive for my feet.

More important that a specific boot brand is a boot that fits properly. Real feet are likely to differ in shape from a standard boot last of a given manufacture. The most important is using your boots before the trip.

REI boot fitting tips:

Whether hiking steep terrain, running along a trail or enjoying a
casual walk around town, shoes that fit correctly are essential for
the overall comfort and health of your feet. The following tips and
techniques are designed to help you get a good fit.

This may seem obvious. But feet do change size over time, so if you
haven't had yours measured in awhile, it's not a bad idea-especially
before you order boots or shoes online. If one foot is larger than
the other (which is quite common), fit your larger foot first.

Next, check the fit once you get your footwear.

Your feet naturally swell during a day's activity. It's best to try on
shoes towards the end of the day when your feet are more closely the
size they'll be after you've been walking for a while.

Check the initial fit. Seat your heels firmly into the heel cups of
the boots, lace them up and stand up. They should feel snug around the
ball and instep of your foot, but loose enough that flexing your foot
forward is not uncomfortable.

Since most people have one foot that's slightly larger than the other,
try on both shoes. Try to walk on both carpet and hard surfaces to get
an idea of different surface traction. If possible, walk up and down
an incline to check for foot movement inside the boots. Check for heel
lift and toes touching the end of the boot.

Next, move up onto the balls of your feet. Now back on your heels. Do
the shoes flex adequately with your feet? Are they comfortable? Don't
be fooled that a shoe can be "broken in." Sure, a shoe will become
"softer" with wear, but a good-fitting shoe doesn't need to be broken
in.

You should be able to wiggle your toes inside the toe box (the front
of the shoe). To see if you have enough room, slide your foot forward
so your toes are just touching the end of the unlaced boot. In this
position, you should have a finger's width (about ½") between the base
of your heel and the boot. This will allow toes to spread to keep your
feet stable and provide room for natural foot swelling; it will also
prevent cutting off the circulation which leads to cold feet.

Your heel should stay in place. After lacing there should be no more
than ¼" of movement in your heel. This will reduce friction that can
lead to blisters and will prevent your foot from sliding forward as
you walk downhill. If your foot feels like it's "floating" inside the
boot, try a half size down.

Finally, address any fit problems.

High insteps, longer second toes, bunions, heel spurs—all these common
foot conditions can cause annoying and painful fit problems. Most of
these fit issues can be addressed fairly easily.

Insoles not only help to cushion and support feet, but also take up
volume in a boot or shoe that's slightly large for the foot. Try using
an insole if your heel is moving a bit or your toes are sliding
forward slightly. Of course, supportive insoles also control side
motion such as pronation and supination and can help reduce or
eliminate fatigue, blistering and other motion-related fit issues.

Don't forget socks. They also help to take up extra volume in large
shoes. Make sure you try on footwear with the socks that you intend to
wear with them.

Whatever you end up with make sure you do some hiking at home before leaving in a similar terrain.

1. You need to find out if it was the right choice
2. You need to "break in" the shoes/boots
3. You need to get your legs in shape - from your question I deduce that you are not a regular hiker :-)

Here is another vote for the Ahnu waterproof hiking shoes. These are great.

Thank you for your replies! What do you think about Sketcher walking shoes?

Like the others, I would recommend visiting a reputable outdoor store to get a good pair of shoes or boots - something like Salomon, Meindl or Merrell, for instance. Boots will give you good ankle support if you are tackling rough ground. On the other hand, if you're sticking more to regular trails, approach shoes could be a good choice. Like the boots, they will have a firm sole (less flexible than running shoes) and are also good for walking around town. If you choose them, you could wear them on the flight to Scotland and put lighter shoes for the evening in your luggage.

Pay attention to what Edgar posted. Go to a local REI or outdoors store and try on different kinds of walking/hiking shoes. They usually have little mini-hills representing steep terrain so you can go both up and down. It was in trying on shoes and boots this way that I learned why I needed a boot that laced up above the ankle. No low-topped, sneaker-like shoe kept my toes from jamming into the front of the shoe going down the little fake hill.

Do not discount the roughness of the terrain in Scotland. It's generally hilly, but even the little hills of a meter or so can be a challenge going up and down. Hiking/walking paths are not often paved, even with gravel. It's mostly wet, so those paths can be very muddy and slippery. Sometimes there are no real paths. And I saw no hand rails anywhere I went.

All that also goes for common tourist locations like Stirling or Edinburgh castles. The terrain is steep with very slippery-when-wet cobblestones. Those castles were built on the tops of hills for reasons having nothing to do with us tourists.

Keep in mind how many hours you will be on your feet each day. You want shoes that you can be comfortable in and that will stay dry for at least 6 hours a day. I can't imagine that anything but a purpose-built walking/hiking shoe will work for the hiking you plan to do in Scotland.

RE: "many hours on your feet".

Consider custom insoles or premium insoles (e.g. Superfeet) but try/use them during your "break in" and training period. Custom orthopedics and premium insoles provide greater support and in some cases more cushioning of your foot.

The "more cushioning" part is where care is needed in using the insoles in that thicker insoles reduce boot volume for your foot. The same applies for extra thick socks (more cushion and insulation at the cost of added volume). If you boot is fitted for the factory insoles and thin socks, adding thicker insoles and using thicker socks will change your boot's fit. Also keep in mind that feet tend to swell so test the boot during the afternoon and preferably not after jet sitting around.

Again, the solution is to test the boot, insole, sock combination during your trip training days including anticipated walking duration. Better to find out fit problems at home and not during your trek.

As an added thought, "waterpoof/breathable" trail running shoes could be useful as a hut shoe post hiking. I like to have clean and dry shoes for walking around after a day's walk and your overnight host (be it a B&B or hotel) will appreciate your not wearing wet and muddy boots that look like something the cat dragged in over their clean floors and carpets.

And even "waterproof" boots need to get dried out. Pull the insole and stuff dry newspapers into the boot after you wash the mud off.

I've been using waterproof hiking shoes for a few years, even when walking in more urban environments.

https://www.rei.com/product/828400/merrell-moab-mid-waterproof-hiking-boots-womens

I picked up this pair of Merrell boots about 2 years ago and they've been to the Olympic Peninsula (fording a few streams) on rocky paths and muddy trails and up to Acadia National Park - walking on granite, gravel, trails and some sandy beaches.

They're not terribly heavy and have done me well over the past couple years over hundreds of miles up and down trails. Like others, after a hikes I tend to either leave the boots out in the sun or stuff wads of paper in them to dry out. (Waterproof means that they do tend to get damp inside ... where's the sweat supposed to go?)

Mine are blue and gray and don't look too much like "boots" especially if I wear my jeans cuffed down around my ankles ... they just look like jeans when we're bumming around town. One one trip I actually wore them on the plane so I wouldn't have to pack them.

Before these boots I pretty much wore sneakers or hiking sandals but I really think these did a better job keeping my knees from getting jammed up when jumping down from some rocks a few times and my ankles more stable when things are uneven or slippery.

Like others have said, get them and wear them ahead of time. I did about 10 miles in them before I decided they were okay for taking on a hiking trip. (Also ... good socks. I like tight but thin smartwool socks in the summer and the super thick ones when it's chilly.) REI and some other good outfitters encourage you to try the shoes on, spend some time in the store with them on and even walk around one these rock things to make sure you can handle ups & downs without your feet shifting around.

Have we repeated " it could be very wet" enough? I am noticing that you said " a lot of hiking" rather just maybe a day or two of hiking. So, something that will adjust to the climate is very important. I can only speak to the area between Glasgow and Glencoe this past July, but there were lots of hikers and there was lots of rain. Everyone, including kids, were wearing proper hiking shoes. You could get a stretch of unbelievable weather, but you could see lots of wet.

ditto, ditto, ditto to all above

waterproof(gore-tex/eVent)hiking boots(or at least hiking shoes) and a good pair of (Smart)wool socks. (A backup pair in your pack doesn't hurt either in case you stumble into a stream over your ankles) Everyone has their favourites depending on personal fit, so go into a well stocked outdoor store or two and try stuff on. Some are narrow, some fit wide toe boxes etc. AND BREAK THEM IN BEFORE GOING. Scotland is casual enough that as long as you clean them up, you can also wear them just about anywhere, ie. the pub afterwards!

Purchased some waterproof Ahnu 'Montara" ankle boots They are lightweight and have sturdy vibram soles... they also look good. Bought the solid black version and wearing Smart Wool socks for Scotland trip in October 2016.

Regardless of the shoe you chose, in Scotland we always carry an extra pair of dry socks with us in our day bag. Doing so has saved the day more than once.

I know this is old, but when hiking in Scotland think rain! We had rain gear and hiking boots, and a hike in the Cuillins got the wettest we've ever been. The previous day we had sunshine, but a cloudy morning turned into a downpour. We had our lighter weight goretex boots on, and had a half inch of water in them by the end of our hike.